Brenda-Lee Hunter: Overdose Grief, Stigma & Families Left Behind

Send us Fan MailThe overdose crisis is often talked about like a statistic, but behind every loss is a family, a story, a mother, a child, a friend, and a grief that does not end.In this powerful conversation, Julie Fairhurst sits down with her dear friend Brenda-Lee Hunter on the eve of her book launch, Echoes of Love, Voices of Loss, a deeply moving collection built from the real stories of families impacted by the drug crisis in British Columbia and beyond.Brenda-Lee shares why overdose grief is so often misunderstood, how stigma changes the way families are treated after a loss, and why silence keeps people trapped in shame instead of receiving compassion and support.We talk about the prescription opioid era, mental health gaps, pain care, today’s unregulated drug supply, safe injection sites, shelters, outreach, treatment access, longer rehab timelines, brain injury from repeated overdoses, and the children who are growing up in the shadow of addiction and trauma.This is not just a conversation about addiction. It is a conversation about love, loss, families, policy, community, and the urgent need to stop treating grieving people like they have something to hide.If this episode touches your heart, please share it with someone who needs language for what they are carrying. Subscribe, leave a review, and help us spread stories that can move hearts and push leaders to act.Join the group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/4101376083451665Buy the book:United Stateshttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GZ2SW3D9Canada https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0GZ2SW3D9Website:  https://thelegacymission.com/meet-brenda-lee-hunterIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website